Oak Flat, known to the Apache as Chi’Chil’Ba’Goteel, was federally protected until it became part of a land swap approved by federal officials in 2014. The Save Oak Flat Act would nullify that swap. (Photo by Kevin Hurley/Cronkite News)
Posted in First Peoples News Toxic Chemicals

Tribe urges Sen. Kelly to support bill to protect sacred Oak Flat

  By Brenda Rivas,  Cronkite News Story Correction:   A Dec. 2 Cronkite News story about a demonstration urging Sen. Mark Kelly to support legislation protecting Oak Flat misrepresented outreach to Kelly’s office for comment. The story…

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Joy Harjo, poet laureate of the United States, has just begun her third term. (Photo by Shawn Miller/Library of Congress)
Posted in Indigenous News Literature

First Native American poet laureate begins third term, releases a memoir

“Sometimes on a bad day I think nothing’s changed at all,” Harjo said. “And then other times because I have children and grandchildren and great grandchildren and ultimately they’re all our children. When I look in…

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Since June 28, police in Minnesota have blockaded a driveway to an Indigenous camp of water protectors protesting the Line 3 pipeline. (Photo: Giniw Collective)
Posted in Environment News Pipelines

Water Protectors against Line 3 sue over police blockade of Indigenous camp

“The Hubbard County Sheriff has attempted to illegally construct a de facto open-air prison to trap Indigenous environmental protectors and allies on their own property.” by Jessica Corbett, Staff writer July 16, 2021   Water protectors…

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Posted in First Nations Guest Column Indigenous News

Ending food insecurity in Native communities means restoring land rights, handing back control

Since the 1980s, an influx of fast food restaurants and convenience stores and an exodus of supermarkets in poorer neighborhoods across the U.S. have led to chronic disease disparities in low-income communities and racial minorities. This…

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Posted in Indigenous News Pipelines Toxic Chemicals

Indigenous Rights groups join Michigan Gov. Whitmer in demanding shutdown of Enbridge’s Line 5

The governor called the pipeline a “ticking time bomb” as her deadline of Wednesday, set last year for the Canadian company, fast approached. by Julia Conley, staff writer Tuesday, May 11, 2021 Indigenous rights and climate…

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Posted in Business Indigenous News

Native-owned SkyDance Brewing moving to its own location

by Jazz M. Wolfe, Gaylord News Monday, May 10, 2021 Oklahoma’s first Native American-owned brewing company, inspired by the recipes of the owner’s father, will open an independent location this summer. Jacob Keyes, a member of the…

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Posted in Biden Administration Environment Indigenous News

‘Watershed moment’ as Haaland revokes Trump-era orders, creates climate task force

“Today’s orders make certain that the Interior Department is no longer going to serve as a rubber-stamp for the coal and oil and gas industries.”   by Jessica Corbett, staff writer   Friday, April 16, 2021…

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Photo illustration by Shoshana Gordon/ProPublica, source images: Shaun Griswold and Marjorie Childress/New Mexico in Depth, Ewingdo via Wikimedia Commons and Nathan Gibbs via Flickr
Posted in Hospitals Investigations Pro Publica

The Two Hospitals Have Similar Infant Death Rates — Until You Look at Extremely Premature Babies

Lax state oversight leaves unanswered questions about the deaths of extremely preterm babies at Albuquerque’s Lovelace Women’s Hospital, which markets itself as a state-of-the-art newborn facility. Experts say transparency could save lives. by Bryant Furlow, New…

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On April 1, 2021 U.S. Interior Secretary announced a new Bureau of Indian Affairs unit dedicated to the investigation of missing and murdered Indigenous people.
Posted in Indigenous News

Haaland announces new Missing and Murdered Indigenous Unit at Interior

The department said the new unit will “put the full weight of the federal government into investigating these cases and marshal law enforcement resources across federal agencies and throughout Indian country.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer…

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Posted in Columns Economy Government Wade Rathke

Politicians face off over ESG investing

by Wade Rathke Friday, March 5, 2021 New Orleans    Free marketeers are caught in a crisis of contradictions. They want to pretend that market forces exist independent of any interference from government or other factors,…

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Posted in Agriculture Citizen Wealth Community

The Gift of Ecological Humility

These Afro-Indigenous practices challenge ideas of human supremacy. “I love to think of nature as unlimited broadcasting stations, through which God speaks to us every day, every hour.” —George Washington Carver, Tuskegee University, 1930 by Leah Penniman…

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The West’s latest prospecting frenzy? Extraterrestrial gold.

Companies are hunting for lithium near Moab, Utah. Rebecca Worby, High Country News August 14, 2017 White Oil, Oro Blanco, Extraterrestrial Gold: lithium, the lightweight element key to rechargeable batteries, has recently acquired a slew of…

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Posted in Analysis Economy Indigenous News

Tribes revive traditional hemp economies

A post-petroleum transition plan. by Winona LaDuke February 16, 2021 More than 20 years ago, Alex White Plume, a leader of the Oglala Lakota, planted his first hemp crop on Wounded Knee Creek, on the Pine…

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Posted in Biden Administration News

After Trump was allowed to let lobbyist run Interior Dept., Manchin called to ‘Do what’s right’ and confirm Haaland

“The opposition to Congresswoman Haaland’s confirmation is narrow and guided by money, not the qualifications or historic importance of what the nomination of Deb Haaland will do for this country.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Tuesday,…

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Posted in Analysis Biden Administration Indigenous News

‘Indian Country’ is excited about the first Native American secretary of the interior – and the promise she has for addressing issues of importance to all Americans

by Traci Morris, Arizona State University Tuesday, February 16, 2021 U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland speaks in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Oct. 1, 2018. Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images President Biden’s nomination of U.S. Rep. Deb Haaland of…

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Posted in Biden Administration Politics

Deb Haaland faces GOP backlash over role in pipeline protests

Opposition to fracking and fossil fuel pipelines “are the exact reasons Deb Haaland is the right pick for Interior secretary,” said one advocacy group. by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, February 16, 2021 Republican Sen. John…

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Posted in Arizona Mining

Federal judge rejects Apache Stronghold request to block Oak Flat mine

by Ryan Knappenberger, Cronkite News Saturday, February 13, 2021 Washington, D.C. –    A federal judge Friday refused to order a halt to the proposed Resolution Copper Mine on Oak Flat, land that opponents say is sacred…

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Posted in Climate change Environment News Pipelines

After court rules Dakota Access Pipeline operating illegally, Dems demand Biden it shut down

“You can continue to show your administration values the environment and the rights of Indigenous communities more than the profits of outdated fossil fuel industries.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Friday, February 5, 2021 Five Democratic…

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Posted in Indigenous News

Advocates, lawmakers hail Biden pledge to respect tribal sovereignty

by Sarah Oven, Cronkite News Thursday, January 28, 2021 Washington, D.C. –   Native American policy experts and Arizona lawmakers welcomed President Joe Biden’s order calling for stronger relations with tribal governments, with one saying it “goes…

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Border wall destruction in Arizona

The companies that are mutilating the land along the US/MX border call the destruction “pioneering”. This video was filmed in Guadalupe Canyon. Video credit: Follow the John

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Posted in Analysis First Peoples News High Country News

Bears Ears is just the beginning

As the Biden administration begins, tribal nations with ties to Utah assert their relationships to the land. by Jessica Douglas and Graham Lee Brewer, High Country News Friday, January 22, 2021 Long before former President Barack…

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Posted in Climate change First Peoples News News Pipelines

Indigenous women urge Biden to stop pipelines and respect Treaty Rights

“Joe Biden, we are asking you to stand on the right side of history and humanity by putting an immediate end to the deadly pipelines destroying our Earth, our communities, and all life.” by Jessica Corbett,…

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Posted in First Peoples News News

Two Native Americans arrested over keystone XL protests at same time right wing terrorists attack US Capitol and waltz home free

Though plenty of white Trump supporters who terrorized the capitol face little consequence, Jasilyn Charger and Oscar High Elk are charged for nonviolently resisting oil pipeline construction in South Dakota. by Meteor staff Friday, January 8,…

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Posted in First Nations Op/Ed Racism

On Wounded Knee: We fight to mend the Hoop

“There was no honor in these murders,” says Manny Iron Hawk, whose grandmother survived the massacre at age 12 by hiding in a ravine. by Abby Zimet, Further columnist Wednesday, December 30, 2020 On this date…

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